...New Zealand, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino picked the most unfortunate moment possible to drop his car keys
Words Mark White
WEIRD WORLD OF FOOTBALL
1 “AND NOW, WE COME TO POT TWO”
If his time at UEFA was anything to go by, Gianni Infantino loves a draw ceremony – but his trip to Auckland for the Women’s World Cup event nearly went badly wrong.
The ex-Champions League drawmeister has been FIFA president for six years, and jetted Down Under to see the shindig for the 2023 female tournament, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand.
Before the draw could take place though, Infantino just happened to be strolling along the riverside in a traditional Maori cloak when he dropped his keys and looked up to see a topless warrior bearing down on him, carrying a spear. OK, not really: he was taking part in a Maori challenge called the Wero, where the warrior lays down a token such as a small branch, for the visitor to pick up and show they come in peace.
It’s akin to meeting Diego Costa for the first time and hoping he doesn’t headbutt you, but Infantino didn’t become football’s most powerful person for nothing – he used all of his diplomatic skills to pass the challenge, and probably persuaded the Maori warrior to vote for him at the next FIFA election, too.
2 A NARA ESCAPE
Maori warriors are pretty fearsome, but they’ve got nothing on a scorned Wanda Nara.
The Argentine model laid into striker Mauro Icardi last year after cheating allegations, declaring: “Another family you’ve ruined for a slut.” This, after Icardi previously got together with the wife of teammate Maxi Lopez... Wanda Nara.
Icardi and Nara reconciled this year, but have split up again – Nara was seen kissing rapper L-Gante, then appeared on the artwork for his new song El Ultimo Romantico. The Galatasaray forward responded by reportedly jetting to Argentina, being denied access to her hotel, and firing Nara as his agent. That went well.
3 JURASSIC PARK
When Jordan Pickford made the trip to St James’ Park recently, Newcastle fans were ready to send him off to the World Cup in style.
The Everton keeper may have hoped for a touching tifo of support perhaps, to boost his morale ahead of Qatar – “Do us proud Jordan, pride of the North East, England’s No.1” – but he was left disappointed. Instead, they turned up with T-Rex inflatables to make fun of his supposed tiny arms.
The ex-Sunderland shot-stopper is unlikely to ever be entirely popular on Tyneside, and he went home pointless too – Newcastle won 1-0, after Miguel Almiron’s stunning strike found the postage stamp. Even three T-Rexes wouldn’t have saved that
